The new edition of the SRAM Force AXS road bike drivetrain is not a completely new development, but rather a comprehensive facelift for 2023. The familiar AXS platform with motors, removable individual batteries and wireless transmission protocol remains unchanged, meaning that the twelve-speed drivetrain is still compatible with other components from the SRAM AXS environment. The SRAM Force disc brakes also remain largely untouched. The components have been given a new look for 2023, with the decals on the road bike components shimmering in rainbow colours being particularly striking.
New chainring for the SRAM Force AXS 2023
With the technical update of the Force, the Americans focussed primarily on the known weaknesses of the groupset. The first SRAM Force AXS was worthy of criticism, introduced 2019The main complaint was the shifting behaviour of the front derailleur, which repeatedly caused the chain to drop. Although SRAM alleviated the problem shortly after its introduction with a slightly wider front derailleur cage and a special tool for adjustment, the developers of the new road bike groupset focussed on this point in particular. A one-piece chainring combination, similar to that already used in the top Red groupset, now provides a remedy.
Improved front shifting behaviour with the SRAM Force AXS
The chainrings are laterally stiffer, and newly designed climbing aids further improve the shifting behaviour. In the ride test of the new SRAM Force AXS, the shifting behaviour is actually at a higher level, the chain shifts faster and more precisely, no difference to the top road bike groupset SRAM Red. The disadvantage of the design: If one chainring is worn, the entire combination has to be replaced. This is particularly bitter for the version with power meter, where the hardware is also integrated into the double chainrings - SRAM does offer a replacement programme for this, which reduces the costs somewhat. A positive side effect, on the other hand, is the weight: A large part of the approximately 100 gram weight saving of the new SRAM Force comes from the slimmer crank and the new chainrings.
Ergonomics as a second construction site
Another noticeable difference in the new SRAM Force AXS are the grips, whose design now matches that of the slimline SRAM Force AXS. SRAM Rival-grip body. The new ergonomics are more comfortable, especially for small hands; the redesigned gear knob is also slightly easier to reach. The brake lever is slightly more pronounced so that the fingers immediately find the right place. The brake levers on the Force road bike drivetrain are made of carbon, while they are made of aluminium on the more affordable Rival groupset.
However, the new levers have to do without connections for the wired additional shift buttons called "blips". The SRAM Force AXS can now only be combined with the wireless additional shifters, up to six of which can be integrated with the help of the SRAM AXS app. They are powered by a rechargeable battery, once this is used up, the switches have to be replaced (cost: around 100 euros).
Options and prices of the new SRAM Force AXS for 2023
As before, a number of different setups are available, covering everything from road racing bikes to gravel bikes. The Force groupset can be used with a single or double crankset, and there is a "wide" option for the front derailleur and crankset especially for gravel bikes, which allows tyre widths of up to 45 millimetres with two chainrings. The road rear derailleur can handle up to 36 teeth; up to 44 teeth are possible with the rear derailleur for single drivetrains. Prices for the new SRAM Force AXS groupset start at €1715 for a 1x12 drivetrain without a power meter, with 2x12 gears with integrated power meter costing €2515.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
